trammell



Feb. 21, 1956 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR

LOCK

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 INVENTOR.

i @7mm/fw Feb. 21, 1956 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR

LOCK

Filed Aug. s, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LOCK

Earl M. Trammell, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.

Application August 3, 1953, Serial No. 372,029

8 Claims. (Cl. 70-135) This invention relates to improvements in a lock, and more particularly to improvements adapted for incorporation into latch mechanism utilized on automobile doors, whereby to expedite the locking of such doors. The improvements are, however, applicable with or without minor changes, for similar usage in connection with locks of many types, utilized for different purposes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of the improvements in locks and latches disclosed in co-pending applications Serial No. 262,419, led December 19, 1951, now Patent No. 2,694,917 dated November 23, 1954; Serial No. 281,539, filed April 10, 1952, now Patent No. 2,768,845 dated May 24, 1955 and Serial No. 365,747, tiled July 2, 1953, all by this applicant.

There are several types of locks utilized on automobile doors which require the conventional manipulation of keys in the usual key hole in order to lock the door from the outside. The necessity of placing a key in a conventional key hole, which is usually covered, presents extreme disadvantages and severe problems under certain situations and conditions. For example, it is difficult for the motorist to locate accurately a key hole at night, or when burdened with packages. It is accordingly a major objective of the present improvements to provide an auxiliary locking means which may be incorporated into any of the conventional locks mentioned above to overcome the stated diiculties and problems, and to expedite locking the door from the outside under these or any other similar situations and conditions.

Another object of the present improvements is realized in an auxiliary locking means which includes a keyactuated member structurally so related to a shielding member as to permit actuation of the actuated member merely by insertion of a thin instrument such as a key. It is a further objective advantage to provide the shielding member with a slot or other aperture to permit actuation of the key-actuated member, merely by a pushing action, or translatory movement of the key or like thin, elongate object, in a manner to result in a locking action of the latch mechanism.

Still another objective is realized in the provision of means which permit locking action of the latch mechanism upon depressible movement of the key on the keyactuated member, and which prevent any unlocking action of the latch mechanism upon subsequent movement of the key-actuated member, whether the key-actuated member be moved inadvertently or intentionally. Upon restoration of the component parts of the latch mechanism to the initial unlocked position, as by the action of a key in a conventional lock, the auxiliary locking means including the depressible key-actuated member, will be conditioned for future locking operation.

Other objectives and advantages are realized in a keyactuated member connected to the locking parts of a latch mechanism attached to an automobile door, and carried by and located internally of a shielding member located externally of the automobile door, the key-actuated memnited States Patent 'i Patented Feb. 2l, 1956 ice ber being operable in and engageable by a key only through a narrow slot provided in the shielding member.

Objectively, the presently improved and novel combination of features enables a key to be quickly and accurately located in a particular region of the shielding member attached externally of the door, for subsequent movement into operative engagement with a key-actuated member located internally thereof, whereby to enable a fast, effortless locking of the door through an auxiliary locking means.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and a modilication thereof, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View showing a latch mechanism including the present improvements attached to a conventional automobile door, the lower portion of the door being cut away to show more clearly the details and relation of parts of the latch mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the latch mechanism including the present improvements attached to the automobile door shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the bracket structure of the latch mechanism and the several component parts carried thereby;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view as seen along line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view as taken along staggered line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, but showing a structural position and relation of the component parts of the latch mechanism after actuation of the auxiliary locking means by a key;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of a latch mechanism including a modified form of an auxiliary locking means;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view in cross section as taken along line 9 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross section, as taken along line 1li- 10 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 1l is a view, partly in cross section, as taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view as taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 8.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and tirst to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noticed that the present improvements are adapted for attachment to a conventional automobile door generally designated at 10. The door 10 consists of a substantially vertical inner frame portion 11 (Fig. 2) which extends upwardly and merges with a substantially horizontal window ledge 12. An outer frame portion 13 extends downwardly from ledge 12 and curves gently downwardly and outwardly to form the lower body portion of the door 14). A lateral frame portion 14 is located between the inner frame 11 and the outer frame 13, as is best shown by Fig. 1. Of course, the inner and outer frame portions 11 and 13 extend upwardly above the ledge 12 and are spaced at opposed sides of the door to provide a window frame or glass frame, all of which is conventional in the usual automobile door. For completeness of disclosure, a door glass 15 (Fig. 2) is shown above ledge 12.

Attached to the inner side of the lateral frame member 14 is a latch-and-lock mechanism generally designated at 16. This mechanism 16 is comprised of a bracket structure 17 having right angularly related plates 18 and 20. Several threaded boss portions 21 are formed on plate 18, and are adapted to receive threaded screws 22,

the screws 22 securing the plate 18 in assembly adjacent to the frame portion 14. A guide projection 23 is secured to the upper portion of plate 18, and projects through an aperture provided in frame portion 14.

A latching gear element 24 carried by short shaft member 25 is rotatably journalled in plate 18. The gear element 24 extends through a compatible aperture 26 provided in lateral frame portion 14, and normally engages a coacting latching element (not shown) secured to the adjacent frame member of the automobile body, whereby to retain the automobile door in a closed, latched position. The shaft 25 is headed at its inner end to retain a toothed wheel 27. It will be noted that the latching gear element 24 and the toothed wheel 27 are adapted to rotate together with shaft 25.

Pivotally secured to plate 13 by pin 30, is a handleactuated lever 31 constituting a latch arm. A bell crank lever 32, clearly shown in Figs. 2, and 6, is also pivotally mounted on pin 30, and is located between lever 31 and plate 18. One end of bell crank lever 32 consists of an arm 33 normally disposed in a horizontal position to abut a resilient member 34, the latter being adapted to establish the angular relation of lever 32. The outer end of arm 33 projects through an aperture in plate 2G. The lower end portion of bell crank lever 32 is comprised of a hook formation 35 adapted to engage the teeth of wheel 27.

A spring 36 is mounted about pin 30, one end of which is secured to the inner end of pin 30 and the outer end of which is arranged in abutting relation to a projection or lug 37 formed as an integral part of bell crank lever 32. The lug 37 is received by and projected through a slot 38 provided in the lever 31. Spring 36 is connected so as to tend to urge the arm 33 of bell crank lever 32 against the resilient member 34, and hence acts to urge the hook formation 35 into operative engagement with a tooth of wheel 27 to prevent rotation of the wheel 27 and of latching gear element 24. Any clockwise movement imparted to lever 31, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, will be imparted to lug 37 by the aperture 3S against the loading of spring 36, and hence imparted to bell crank lever 32. Upon being rotated in the manner described above, the hook formation 3S is disengaged from Wheel 27, thus permitting free rotation of wheel 27 and of gear element 24. When the wheel 27 and the gear element 24 are released, the automobile door 10 is unlatched and may be opened.

Another lever 40 is pivotally secured to the plate face 18 by pin 41 located below the wheel 27, the lever 40 constituting a blocking member. One end of lever 4t) projects through a slot formed in plate face 20, and engages a plunger 42. Plunger 42 extends upwardly to a point immediate the window ledge 12. The upper end of plunger 42 is threaded to receive a plunger head 43 which may be manually actuated to a raised or to a lowered position, in these positions the plunger serving to unlock or to lock, respectively, the latching mechanism. The opposite end of lever 40 carries a ange 44 which is provided with a slot 45 adapted to receive and coact with a part of a lock mechanism generally indicated at 46 and later described. A hook or latching projection 47 is formed on this end portion of lever 40, and is adapted to engage the toothed formation of wheel 27 when the lever is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, whereby at suchtime acting to prevent any rotation of wheel 27 and of gear element 24.

The lock mechanism 46 is or may be of the prevailing cylinder type, and includes a plate face 47 attached to the frame 13 of the automobile door. The internal details of the lock 46 are not shown, since they are or may be conventional, but it will be noted that the inner end of the lock 46 includes a rotatable shaft 50 turnable upon the insertion and partial rotation of a key. Fixedly secured tothe shaft is an extension rod 51 which projects through slot 45 for actuation of lever 40. Lock shaft 4 50 is journalled and positioned in a flange 52 extending at right angles to plate 18.

When a key is inserted and turned in the lock mechanism 46, the shaft 50 and extension rod 51 are similarly rotated. As the extension rod 51 is moved upwardly, it moves lever 40 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figs. 5 and 6. This rotative movement of lever 4i) causes hook element 47 operably to engage Wheel 27, causes shoulder of lever 31 to be blocked by ange 44, whereby to latch the door in the closed position.

Similarly, when unlocking the door, the key is turned in the lock in the opposite direction to move the extension rod 51 downwardly, hence disengaging the hook 47 from the toothed wheel 27. Since plunger 42 is secured to the end of lever 40 opposite tlange 44, the plunger head 43 will be raised or lowered to indicate the unlocked or locked condition.

Fastened to the outer frame element 13 of the door is a handle structure 53. One end portion of handle 53 provides a housing for a handle-actuating device 54, and provides a chambered portion for an auxiliary locking mechanism generally indicated at 55 and later described.

The handle-actuating mechanism consists of a plunger rod 56 (Figs. 5 and 6) which is attached at one end to a depressible thumb-operated member 57, the other end of which is disposed so as normally to abut the upper portion of handle-actuated lever 31. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the thumb-actuated member 57 is in its outermost position. lf member 57 were depressed against the loading of spring 58 (Fig. 2) the plunger rod 56 would impart a clockwise rotation (Figs. 5 and 6) to lever 31. Of course, when lever 31 is rotated in the manner described, the hook formation 35 will be disengaged from wheel 27, thus releasing wheel 2,7 and gear element 24 for subsequent free rotative movement.

It will be obvious from the structure described above, that a key must be inserted into the lock mechanism 46 to actuate the lever 40 to lock the door. If plunger head 43 were depressed to engage the hook 47 with the teeth of wheel 27 to prevent rotation thereof, and to move llange 44 into blocking position to lever 31, the hook 47 would be cammed out of engagement with the teeth of wheel 27 when the door is closed. This action is more clearly shown from Figs; 5 and 6, wherein it appears that if wheel 27 were rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as would be the case if the door were closed and the gear element 24 engaged the coacting latching member (not shown) of the automobile frame, the camming surface of the teeth of Wheel 27 would urge hook 47 downwardly, and hence urge lever 40 in a counterclockwise direction. In order to obviate the necessity of placing a key in the key hole of locking mechanism 46 incident to locking the door, an auxiliary locking means is provided.

However, first for completeness of disclosure of the latch mechanism 16 selected by way of example, it will be noted from Fig. 3 that provision for unlatching the door from the inside is provided. The inside handle of the door is not shown, but it is connected to a pin 60 that is also secured to a lever 61. Lever 61 is pivotally secured by a pin 62 to the plate 20. One end of the lever 61 is comprised of an arm 63 that overlies and normally abuts the arm 33 of lever 32. The opposite end of lever 61 is provided with a flange 64 that is adapted to abut one end portion 65 of a lever 66. The other end of lever 66 is provided with a bifurcated end portion 67 that grips one ann of lever 40. A loop spring 68 is secured to the plate face 20, and to the last mentioned arm of lever 40, and is thus arranged to urge the lever 40 either to the uppermost or to the lowerrnost position.

As the inside door handle (not shown) is moved, the pin 60 is moved to an outermost position. From Fig. 3, it is seen that as pin 60 is moved outwardly, the lever 61 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, hence forcing arm 33 of lever 32 downwardly and rotating bell 5 crank lever 32 so as to disengage the hook formation 35 from wheel 27. At the same time, ange 64 of lever 61 abuts the end of lever 66, and imparts a clockwise rotative force thereto so as to move lever 40 to disengage lever 47 from wheel 27 and to remove the obstruction of flange 44 relative to lever 31. As the result of the simultaneous action of levers 61 and 66, the wheel 27 and the gear element 24 are freed for rotative movement, and the door may be opened.

The lower end of lever 31 is provided with right angular shoulder 70 that is adapted to engage the llange 44 of lever 4t) when flange 44 is raised to its uppermost position. When lever 40 is raised, as shown in Fig. 6, the lever 31 cannot be rotated by the depressible thumb plunger 56 since shoulder 70 will engage flange 44 to prevent any rotation. Thus it is seen that hook formation 35 cooperates with toothed wheel 27 to prevent clockwise rotation of wheel 27 and of gear element 24.

The structure of the door-latching assembly previously described in detail is of a conventional form currently utilized in a popular make of automobile. This well known and conventional latching assembly is completely described only for completeness of disclosure to show the cooperative function and results of the present improvements. Of course, no claim is directed solely to this structure, but is directed to the combination of these structures with the improvements hereinafter described.

The handle structure 53 is provided with a vertical, narrow key-receiving slot 71, more clearly shown in Figs. l, 4, 5 and 6, the slot 71 being open at the top and front of the handle. Immediately adjacent one side of slot 71, is a raised rib or shoulder 72 adapted to guide and direct the key into slot 71. If a key were slidably moved along the top of handle 53, from the right to the left as viewed in Fig. 4, it is seen that the key will engage shoulder 72 and hence position the key directly above slot 71. The key then may be directly moved downwardly in a translatory movement into slot 71 for the purposes and results later described.

A pin 73 pivotally supports and positions a lever 74 internally of the handle structure 53. One arm 75 of lever 74 extends into the chambered portion of handle 53 adjacent slot 71, the arm 75 being retained in a completely shrouded state by the handle structure. The outer end of arm 75 is provided with a raised projection 76 adapted to engage the serrated lower edge of a key so as to prevent slippage of the key off of arm 75 when the key is depressed into slot 71 and into engagement with arm 75 of lever 74.

The other end 77 of lever 74 extends rearwardly out of the handle structure 53, the end 77 being secured to actuating rod 78. The actuating rod 78 extends downwardly, and provides a right angularly related lower end portion 80. A vertically elongate slot 81 is provided in ange 44 of lever 40, and is of sufficient width so as to receive the end portion S of rod 78. The rod end 30 operates in slot 81 to raise flange 44 upwardly, so that the hook 47 engages wheel 27, and so that flange 44 blocks shoulder 70 of handle-actuated lever 31 to latch the automobile door.

When the automobile door is in closed position, the lever 40 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, the flange 44 then being in its lowermost position out of blocking relation to lever 31, and the hook 47 being disengaged from wheel 27. With the latching structure and the improvements shown and described above, either of two means may be used to lock the door.

First, in the conventional manner, a key may be inserted into the key hole of locking mechanism 46 and turned, thus rotating extension rod 51, and raising ilange 44 to the uppermost position so that hook 47 engages wheel 27, and flange 44 blocks shoulder 70 of lever 31. In this position, the wheel 27 and gear element 24 are latched against clockwise rotation, as shown m Figs. and 6, and lever 31 is prevented from rotation by ange 44, thus securely locking the automobile door. This locked condition is indicated by a lowered position of plunger head 43 since the inner end of lever 40 is moved to its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 6. However, under certain conditions such as in darkness or when the motorist is burdened with packages, it is extremely difficult to locate accurately the conventional key hole of locking mechanism 46. To facilitate locking of the door under these or any other conditions, the quick-acting auxiliary locking means 56 may be used.

The key is quickly located over the opening of slot 71, as accurately determined by shoulder 72, and is moved downwardly into engagement with arm 75 of lever 74. This movement of the key may be described as a translatory movement, and may be a straight pushing actuation depthwise of the slot, if desired, also a movement of the key somewhat along the slot, but not requiring the usual selective key placement and rotation. It will be noted that the arm 75 does not project outwardly of the handle structure 53, but at all times is completely shielded by the shrouding structure about the recess or slot 71, the slot 71 being of suflicient width to permit the insertion of a thin instrument such as an automobile key, yet so dimensioned as to preclude insertion of a finger.

As the key engages and depresses the arm 75 of lever 74, the lever 74 moves from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6. Upon this rotative or rocking actuation of lever 74 by the key, the actuating rod 7S is lifted by lever arm 77. Similarly, the lower end of rod 73, operating in slot 81 of flange 44, lifts the flange 44 upwardly to the position of Fig. 6. In this position of lever 40, the hook 47 engages wheel 27 and flange 44 blocks rotative movement of lever 31, thus locking the door. Again, the plunger head 43 is lowered by the clockwise rotation of lever 40 to indicate the locked condition.

Very importantly, the slot 81 of flange 44 is of such length that the lower end 80 of rod 78 may be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 5 and not operatively rotate lever 4) from the locked position. This structural relation between rod end 80 and slot 81 provides a safeguard provision that prevents any inadvertent or deliberate unlocking of the door, as might be attempted by placing a thin instrument under the arm 75 of lever 74 and rotating it in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 5. If such action did occur, the lower end 80 of rod 78 would merely be lowered to a lowermost position in slot 81 of flange 44, and would not rotate lever 40. Thus it is seen that the hook 47 of lever 40 would still operatively engage wheel 27, and flange 44 would still operatively block rotative movement of lever 31.

The lever 74 constitutes a depressible key-actuated member completely shielded by the external structure of handle 53, the handle 53 in this case constituting a shielding member. Slot 71 is of such dimensions as to enable actuation of the depressible key-actuated member only by a thin instrument such as a key. Upon actuation of the depressible key-actuated member, the lever 40 which constitutes the locking member is moved to a position so as operatively to lock the door in the closed position. Gf course, these principles disclosed can be utilized in other component parts of the latch mechanism than in handle 53, as for example in other handles, knobs and parts of the latch mechanism. rhese principles are utilized in a modiiication of an auxiliary locking means shown in Figs. 7-12.

Fig. 7 shows a locking mechanism generally indicated at 82 which is somewhat similar to the locking mechanism 46 shown in the previously described embodiment. Locking mechanism 82 includes a body portion S3 carried by frame 13 of the door 10. A cap portion 84 is formed as an integral part of body portion 83, and is extended to the front of frame portion 13 to provide a chambered portion 85. Pivotally secured to body portion 83 is a cover member 86 adapted normally to overlie the opening provided at the front of cap 84, whereby to prevent access to key hole 87 by the key. A spring 90 attached to body portion 83 and to a pin 91, tends to keep the cover member S6 in the closed position shown by Figs. 7 and 8.

The body portion 83 includes a shoulder portion 92 located internally of frame 13, and a projection part 93. The body portion 83 provides a housing for the lock parts actuated by the key, these parts not being shown since they may be assumed as conventional. A shaft 94 is connected at one end to the lock parts, and is adapted for rotation upon inserting and turning the key in the lock. The other end of shaft 94 is rotatably journalled in ange 52 of bracket structure 16. An extension rod 95 carried by and secured to the shaft 94, extends inwardly to project through slot 45 formed in ange 44 of lever 40.

Received over projection part 93 and positioned contiguously to the shoulder portion 92, is a lever 96 that constitutes a key-actuated member. This lever 96 includes a collar portion 97 sleeved loosely over projection part 93 of body portion 83. Collar 97 has a central opening of such dimension as to enable rotation of the collar about the projection part 93. A retaining Washer 100 is mounted over projection part 93 to abut the collar 97, Washer 100 acting to retain lever 96 in position.

n one lateral portion of collar 97 is a key-actuated arm 101 that extends through apertures 102 provided in frame 13 and in the contiguous plate portion 103 of cap member 84, the arm 101 extending into chambered portion 05. The opposite lateral collar portion is provided witn an integral actuating arm 104 extending inwardly to project through a coacting slot 105 formed in harige 44 of lever 40.

The cap member 84 is provided with a narrow, vertical, key-receiving slot 106, the slot 1.06 being open at the top and at the front regions. To constitute a guide Jfor the key incident to insertion thereof into slot 106, the upper portion of slot 106 is formed to provide a downwardly convergent throat 107, as shown in Fig. 8.

The structural relation of vertical slot 106 of cap member 84, relative to the key-actuated arm 101, is such that the only avenue of access to the key-actuated arm 101 is through slot 106, and then only through the use of a thin instrument such as an automobile key, as is determined by the dimensions of slot 106.

The operation of this auxiliary locking means is extremely simple. When it is desired to lock the automobile door, a key is inserted into slot 106 of cap member 84, and is given a translatory movement downwardly into engagement with the depressible key-actuated arm 101. As the key-actuated arm 101 is depressed to a lowermost position, the collar 97 is rotated about projecting part 93, and the integral actuating arm 104 is moved upwardiy to lift flange 44 of lever 40 to its uppermost position. When lever 40 is moved as described, hook 47 will engage wheel 27 and flange 44 will block rotative movement of handle-actuated lever 31. It Will be noted, particularly from Fig. l0, that slot S is of such dimension as to permit the arcuate movement of actuating arm 104 therein, the slot 105 being of a length so as to permit actuating rod 104 to be moved to the lowermost position, incident to raising the key-actuated arm 101, without unlocking the door. In other words, arm 104 may be lowered Without disengaging hook 47 from Wheel 27 or removing iiange 44 from blocking relation to lever 31.

The latch mechanism disclosed in Figs. 7-12 provides an auxiliary locking means which obviates any necessity for placing the key into the key hole of the conventional lock. As stated previously, the use of the conventional key and lock mechanism can be extremely diicult, time consuming and aggravating at times. Utilizing the novel auxiliary locking means, all that need be done to lock CII the door is to depress the key into slot 106, and hence into engagement with key-actuated arm 101. Consequently, the actuating arm 104, in cooperation with coacting slot raises the flange 44 to the uppermost position shown in Fig. 6. When lever 40 is displaced to this position, the flange 44 is located in front of the shoulder 70 of handle-operated lever 31, hence preventing rotation of lever 31. The plunger head 43 is lowered incident to this rotative action of lever 40, whereby to indicate the locked condition of the door.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single currently preferred embodiment, and a minor, related modification thereof, the detail of description should be understood in an instructive, rather than in any limiting sense, numerous variants being possible Within the fair scope of the claimed subject matter.

l claim as my invention:

l. In a door latch assembly including latch mechanism embodying a movable latch arm for installation within the door, a latch-arm-blocking member movable into and out of the path of the latch arm for selectively precluding and permitting elfective actuation of said arm, the door being provided with an exterior slot providing for access therethrough of any thin instrument, a lockconditioning element shielded against direct digital actuation, but located adjacent said slot in position to be actuated by any thin instrument extended through and depressed along the slot, an operating connection between said lock-conditioning element and said blocking member, said connection including means adapted to engage the blocking member to permit movement of said blocking member by said element only in a direction to block said latch arm, and adapted to disengage operatively from said blocking member after movement of the blocking member to a blocking position, and a keyoperated lock connected to said blocking member, and adapted to move said member in a direction out of the path of said latch arm and to condition said means for subsequent operative actuation of said element by the instrument.

2. In a door latch mechanism, a latch arm, a member movable into and out of the path of said latch arm to block the latch arm, said arm and member being located internally of the door, a key actuated lock presented externally of the door, an operative connection from said lock to the latch-arm-blocking member, a depressible element, a slotted shielding structure on the door adjacent said depressible element, the slot therein being so dimensioned as to prevent direct digital access to the depressible element while permitting actuation thereof by the use of any thin instrument inserted in and given a translatory movement along said slot, and an operative connection between said depressible element and said latch arm blocking member adapted to engage the blocking member to move the blocking member only in one direction to block the latch arm, said connection being operatively disengageable from the blocking member after movement of the blocking memberto a blocking position, said key operated lock serving to move the blocking member in a direction to release said latch arm and to condition the depressible element for subsequent operative actuationby the instrument.

3. In a door latch mechanism mounted on the door and including a movable latch arm and a member movable into and out of the path of the latch arm to block the latch arm, the door including a chambered portion provided with a slot accessible externally of the door, a depressible element within said chambered door portion and movable toward and away from said slot, said element being located to be abuttingly actuated by any thin instrument when extended through and given a lateral translatory movement along the slot, a pivoted lever having one arm connected to saidelement, an abutment on said blocking member, another arm of said lever engaging the abutment on said blocking member to move the member only in a direction to block the latch arm upon actuation of said element by the instrument, the last said arm being operatively disengageable from said abutment after movement of the blocking member to the kblocking position, and a key-operated means for moving the member in a direction to release said latch arm and condition said element for subsequent operation.

4. In a door assembly, a latch mechanism mounted on the door and including a movable latch arm and a member movable into and out of the path of the latch arm to block the latch arm, a handle structure secured externally to the door, the handle structure being provided with a chambered portion, and being provided with a narrow slot to permit access therethrough to the chambered portion by any thin instrument, a lever pivotally mounted in said chambered portion, one arm of said lever being located so as to be abuttingly actuated by said instrument when inserted in and moved along the slot, and an actuating rod engageable with the other arm of said lever, and connected to said blocking member so as to move said blocking member only in a direction to block said latch arm, said rod being operatively disengageable from said blocking member after movement of the blocking member to the blocking position, and a key-operated means for moving said blocking member in a direction to release said latch arm and condition said lever for subsequent operation.

5. In a door assembly, a latch mechanism mounted on the door and including a movable latch arm and a member movable into and out of blocking relation to the latch arm, a handle structure secured to the outside of the door, the handle structure being provided with a chambered portion, and being provided with a narrow slot, the slot being of such proportions so as to permit access therethrough to the chambered portion by any thin instrument, a lever pivotally mounted in said chambered portion, one arm of said lever being located adjacent the slot so as to be depressibly actuated upon the insertion and the translatory movement of the instrument along the slot, an actuating rod secured at one end portion to the other arm of said lever, said rod having its opposite end portion normally engageable with the blocking member to move the blocking member only into blocking relation to the latch arm incident to depressible actuation of the rst said lever arm by said instrument, and operatively disengageable from said blocking member after movement of the blocking member to a blocking position, a key-operated lock formed and located to provide a key opening exteriorly of the door, and an operative connection between said lock and said blocking member, said lock being adapted to move the blocking member out of blocking relation to the latch arm and to condition the lever for subsequent depressible actuation by the instrument.

6. In a door assembly, a latch mechanism mounted on the door and including a movable latch arm and member movable into and out of blocking relation to the latch arm, a key-operated lock secured to the door, the lock structure including a chambered portion located exteriorly of the door, said chambered portion being provided with a narrow slot of such proportions so as to permit access therethrough to the chambered portion by any thin instrument, the lock structure having a body portion located interiorly of the door, and a lever mounted on and carried by said body portion, the lever including one arm that is extended into the chambered portion, and is located so as to be abuttingly actuated by said instrument when inserted in and moved along the slot, said blocking member having an abutment, the lever including another arm that engages said abutment to move said blocking member only in a direction to block said latch arm upon actuation of said lever by the instrument, and key-operated means for moving said blocking member in a direction to release said latch arm and to condition said lever for subsequent operation.

7. In a door assembly, a latch mechanism mounted on the door and including a movable latch arm and a member movable into and out of blocking relation to the latch arm, a key-operated lock secured to the door, and located to provide a key opening exteriorly of the door, the lock being provided with a chambered portion located exteriorly of the door, said chambered portion being provided with a narrow slot of such proportions so as to permit access therethrough to the chambered portion by any thin instrument, the lock having a body portion located interiorly of the door, a lever carried by said body portion, the lever including a collar portion rotatably mounted on said body portion, one arm of said lever being connected to the collar portion, and being extended into the chambered portion adjacent the slot so as to be depressibly actuated by said instrument upon insertion of the instrument and its subsequent translatory movement along the slot, the other arm of said lever being connected to the collar portion, and being extended to engage the blocking member, the last said lever arm being disposed in abutting relation to the blocking member to move the blocking member only into blocking relation to said latch arm incident to depressible actuation of the first said lever arm by the instrument, and being adapted to be operatively disengaged from said blocking member after movement of the blocking member to a blocking position, and an operative connection between the key-operated lock and said blocking member adapted to move the blocking member out of blocking relation to the latch arm and to condition the lever for subsequent depressible actuation by the instrument.

8. The combination in and with a door and latch assembly therefor, of a latch arm and a member movable into and out of position to block said latch arm against effective actuation, said member and latch arm being enclosed, a depressible element located toward the out-i side of the door, the door being provided with an elongate slotted opening so proportioned as to receive any thin instrument inserted in and given a translatory movement along the opening, the said depressible element being located adjacent the slotted opening, and an operative connection between said blocking member and said depressible element providing for actuation of said blocking member from the outside of the door, said connection including a lost-motion connection between the depressible element and the blocking member, whereby to permit movement of said blocking member by said depressible element only in a direction to block said latch arm, and to permit operative disengagement from said blocking member after movement of said blocking member into blocking position relative to said latch arm, and a key-operated lock located to provide a key opening exteriorly of the door, and an operative connection between said lock and said blocking member, said lock being adapted to move said blocking member in a direction to release said latch arm and to condition said depressible element for subsequent operative actuation by the instrument.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 471,453 Wohlmuth Mar. 22, 1892 865,855 Benedict Sept. 10, 1907 959,965 Reffelt May 31, 1910 1,495,095 Jerling May 27, 1924 1,722,728 Wright July 30, 1929 2,228,674 Raymond Ian. 14, 1941 2,362,256 Endter Nov. 7, 1944 2,646,300 Roethel July 2l, 1953 2,702,466 McConnell Feb. 22, 1955 

